Advertisement
News

Stuart B’s Story

Stuart began selling The Big Issue in September 2017 and quickly began building up his sales and regular customers at Green Park (Bath).

He was eager to engage with the support on offer and through the course of reviews and conversations, we were able to identify key areas where Stuart could take steps forward. Over the next few months, The Big Issue Foundation was able to help him move toward opening a bank account and registering with a GP, to apply for a Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and to explore his longer-term aspiration to become a mentor for other homeless people.

“I’m building this pitch up because another vendor had it before, and so now I’m trying to get some new clients and find some more people who might want to buy the magazine. I’m also getting to know the market people – they’re good as gold.

It’s going well. Last week I sold 55 which is very good. For me, selling the magazine is all about being polite and courteous. I don’t shout things, but I say, ‘Good morning ma’am, would you like a Big Issue today?’

My customers are very good. There’s one guy called Mark who works in the market, every day he’ll bring me coffee, maybe a home-made flapjack or some banana cake. He buys the magazine every Monday. I’m sleeping rough in Bath at the moment. I change where I sleep every night, but I can’t see any prospect of anything more settled in the near future because I don’t have a local connection.

I’m a head chef by trade and I used to have my own business running a café and catering firm in Cheltenham. I was going to people’s houses, putting on birthday parties, wedding parties, stuff like that. But it was too stressful, and eventually I had a nervous breakdown.

Advertisement
Advertisement

Then I just ended up on the streets – in Bristol, Manchester, London, Birmingham and now in Bath. But now I’m selling the magazine and I’m doing well.

For me it’s about respecting people. If they’re having a bad day you go up and say, ‘I’m here if you want to talk.’ I do that for all my customers.

I’m done with catering now, it’s too stressful. I’d like to get into working with homeless people. I’m interested in doing outreach work, getting out in the morning to give rough sleepers tea and coffee and trying to get to know them.”

Stuart is on his pitch at Green Park Station (Bath) daily from 9am until 5pm.


Service Brokerage is our core work. We train our frontline staff – Service Brokers – to provide expert information, advice and guidance in response to needs disclosed by Big Issue vendors and connect them to specialist housing, health and other support services best able to address these needs.

Support our work today bigissue.com/donate

Advertisement

Change a vendor's life this Christmas

This Christmas, 3.8 million people across the UK will be facing extreme poverty. Thousands of those struggling will turn to selling the Big Issue as a vital source of income - they need your support to earn and lift themselves out of poverty.

Recommended for you

Read All
'Dismay' for disabled and vulnerable households as average annual energy bills to rise to £1,738
Blue flames from a gas hob
Energy bills

'Dismay' for disabled and vulnerable households as average annual energy bills to rise to £1,738

Malala Yousafzai on taking on the Taliban and why 'storytelling is the soul of activism'
Malala Yousafzai
Activism

Malala Yousafzai on taking on the Taliban and why 'storytelling is the soul of activism'

Mum-of-three hit with 'revenge eviction' after asking for repairs: 'It felt like the end of the world'
Hazell and her three kids faced homelessness until Shelter stepped in
Renting

Mum-of-three hit with 'revenge eviction' after asking for repairs: 'It felt like the end of the world'

Winter fuel benefit cuts will send pensioners to hospital, DWP warned: 'It's a political choice'
a view from above of an older person with white hair eating out of a pot
Winter fuel payment

Winter fuel benefit cuts will send pensioners to hospital, DWP warned: 'It's a political choice'

Most Popular

Read All
Renters pay their landlords' buy-to-let mortgages, so they should get a share of the profits
Renters: A mortgage lender's window advertising buy-to-let products
1.

Renters pay their landlords' buy-to-let mortgages, so they should get a share of the profits

Exclusive: Disabled people are 'set up to fail' by the DWP in target-driven disability benefits system, whistleblowers reveal
Pound coins on a piece of paper with disability living allowancve
2.

Exclusive: Disabled people are 'set up to fail' by the DWP in target-driven disability benefits system, whistleblowers reveal

Cost of living payment 2024: Where to get help now the scheme is over
next dwp cost of living payment 2023
3.

Cost of living payment 2024: Where to get help now the scheme is over

Citroën Ami: the tiny electric vehicle driving change with The Big Issue
4.

Citroën Ami: the tiny electric vehicle driving change with The Big Issue